ISLAMABAD (AP) – Afghanistan’s Taleban rulers on Tuesday carried out what is believed to be the second confirmed public execution since the group took power in 2021, according to the country’s Supreme Court.
The court had sentenced to death a man identified only as Ajmal from the capital Kabul who was found guilty of murdering five people in two separate incidents last year.
The execution was carried out with an assault rifle by the son of Siad Wali, one of five men killed by Ajmal. It took place near the offices of the provincial governor in eastern Laghman province, the high court said in a statement.
Relatives of the four other men who were killed by Ajmal witnessed the execution.
The latest public execution is likely to draw criticism from the international community. It comes just a month after the United Nations in a report strongly criticised the Taleban for carrying out public executions, lashings and stonings since seizing power, and called on the country’s rulers to halt such practices.
The Taleban-run Supreme Court in Kabul said when the case against Ajmal was brought to the government’s attention, it thoroughly examined and investigated and said three different courts eventually upheld the death sentence.
The court said the final approval for the execution was ordered by Taleban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada after supervising a separate probe into the murder case.
